Have you ever thought that one of your parents had a
drinking problem?

Have you ever lost sleep because of a parent's drinking?

Did you ever encourage one of your parents to quit drinking?

Did you ever feel alone, scared, nervous, angry or
frustrated because a parent was not able to stop drinking?

Did you ever argue or fight was a parent when he or she was
drinking?

Did you ever threaten to run away from home because of a
parent's drinking?

Has a parent ever yelled at or hit you or other family
members when drinking?

Have you ever heard your parents fight when one of them was
drunk?

Did you ever protect another family member from a parent who
was drinking?

Did you ever feel like hiding or emptying a parent's bottle
of liquor?

Do many of your thoughts revolve around a problem drinking
parent or difficulties that arise because of his or her drinking?

Did you ever wish that a parent would stop drinking?

Did you ever feel responsible for or guilty about a parent's
drinking?

Did you ever fear that your parents would get divorced due
to alcohol misuse?

Have you ever withdrawn from and avoided outside activities
and friends because of embarrassment and shame over a parent's drinking
problem?

Did you ever feel caught in the middle of an argument or
fight between a problem drinking parent and your other parent?

Did you ever feel that you made a parent drink alcohol?

Have you ever that a problem drinking parent did not really
love you?

Did you ever resent a parent's drinking?

Have you ever worried about a parent's health because of his
or her alcohol use?

Have you ever been blamed for a parent's drinking?

Did you ever think your father was an alcoholic?

Did you ever wish you home could be more like the homes of
your friends who did not have a parent with a drinking problem?

Did a parent ever make promises to you that he or she did
not keep because of drinking?

Did you ever think your mother was an alcoholic?

Did you ever wish that you could talk to someone who could
understand and help the alcohol-related problems in your family?

Did you ever fight with your brothers and sisters about a
parent's drinking?

Did you ever stay away from home to avoid the drinking
parent or your other parent's reaction to the drinking?

Have you ever felt sick, cried, or had a "knot" in
your stomach after worrying about a parent's drinking?

Did you ever take over any chores and duties at home that
were usually done by a parent before he or she developed a drinking problem?

0-1 "yes" answers means that your parent is likely not an
alcoholic.

2-5 "yes" answers means that your mom or dad might be an
alcoholic

6 or more "yes" answers means that your mom or dad is probably
an alcoholic.

This test, developed by two social workers, has been heavily
tested and widely used - and found very accurate in the diagnosis of alcohol
problems in the family.

If, after taking this test your score indicates that your
mom or dad is an alcoholic:

Know that they have a disease

Know that it's OK to talk about it with anyone you trust

Know that you didn’t cause the problem, and even though you
may feel that you "make them drink" they would drink no matter what
you do.

Know that you cannot cure their disease, they must cure
their disease.

Know that millions of teens grow up in homes with one or
more alcoholic parents, and that teen support groups such as ALATEEN, can help.

Know that if one or more parents has a problem with alcohol,
you run a risk of having a problem with alcohol – but that if you don’t drink,
you will never experience any alcohol related difficulties. You will need to be
careful!

There are no easy answers – no quick cures. A lot of teens
feel shame over the actions of an alcoholic parent, and instead of talking
about their feelings - getting some support - they cover-up for the behaviors of a
drunk parent and strive always to maintain the "family secret".

You don’t have to get through this alone, and whether or not
your mom or dad is ready to admit to a problem, you know there's a problem,
your feelings are valid and important, and you need support too. Never keep it
a secret; never keep it all inside. Talk to trusted friends, a trusted teacher
or counselor, or to anyone else who you feel comfortable confiding in.

Talking it out helps and it can ensure
that although you may grow up in tough circumstances, you grow up healthy and
strong.

One of the finest compliments I receive from recovering alcoholics is that despite the fact that I am not an alcoholic, I understand how their minds work. I have profound respect for all the old sayings in AA. Some are open to interpretation - the "insanity of our disease" is a literal statement. Read Article

What do you do when the person you love gets consumed by a disease (addiction) that's beyond your control? How do we know when it's time to leave and how do you manage to adjust to life without your actively addicted partner?Read Article